𝐍𝐨 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫

editorApril 1, 20251 Mins read743 Views

On the 27th of March, 2025, at a town hall meeting in Port Loko District, The Inspector General of Police William Fayia Sellu confirmed that there will be no lantern parade slated for this year’s independence day celebrations.

IGP made this disclosure during the interactive sessions on the Sierra Leone’s Police transition from force to service.

The IGP said he would allow them to go ahead with their masked devil Parade for independence Day celebrations as Freetown will also be coming up with a lantern parade during the same period.

IGP Sellu said the ban on lantern and other mask devil remains the same, and only societal masquerades like Hunters Society, Orjeh, poro, etc, are allowed.

Speaking to Tablet, IGP confirmed that Police have written a letter to the Ministry of Tourism informing them that they will not approve the proposed lantern parade to go ahead as planned.

A few weeks ago, the Ministry of Tourism distributed letters inviting people to attend meetings about this year’s lantern float parade without consulting the security forces. See the letter below.

MINISTRY OF TOURISM AND CULTURE

INVITATION TO ATTEND INNAUGURAL MEETING TOWARDs RESUMPTION OF

LANTERN FLOAT PARADE SLATED FOR 20th APRIL 2025

I write with reference to the above subject and to kindly inform you that the Ministry wants to resume Sierra Leone’s traditional Lantern Fioat Parade project on the date mentioned above

Consequent upon the above, your notable institution is kindly requested to send one representative for an inaugural meeting at the Ministry’s Conference room on Saturday, 8th March, 2025 at 12 noon to chat the way forward for this handsome cultural resuscitation project.